Bomber Command Memorial Register

Cave Hill 42-97862 Memorial

USAAFMorayB-17 Flying Fortress 42-97862

Cave Hill, Belfast, Moray

Partial Record

The Memorial

Type
Repainted memorial stone on Cave Hill (listed as historic landmark by NI Environment Agency, May 2016)
Inscription

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LocationApproximate Location

Cave Hill, Belfast, Moray, Moray

what3words: ///declaring.affords.unabashedly

What Happened

On 1 June 1944, B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97862 was on a transfer flight from Gander Bay, Newfoundland, bound for Nutts Corner Airfield, Co. Antrim, where the crew were to be reassigned from the 401st to the 306th Bomb Group. While holding for clearance to land, the aircraft descended into heavy fog and struck the slopes of Cave Hill, Belfast. The bomber burst into flames on impact, and exploding ammunition drove back both rescuers and nearby residents. All ten crew members were killed, among them Pilot Lester Bryan Brooks, Co-Pilot Jeremiah C. Murphy, and Bombardier Leighton B. McKenzie. United States Army soldiers sealed the crash site in the immediate aftermath. The dead were laid to rest at Lisnabreeny American Cemetery.

Community Connection

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Remembrance

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Aircraft & Operation Details

Aircraft Type
B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97862
Squadron
USAAF
Date of Loss
1944-06-01

Crew (11 members)

RankNameRoleAgeNationalityFateBurial / Status
—
Edward Ewing Mc
———Unknown—
—
Joseph V. Nobilione
Navigator——Unknown—
Wilbur
D. Brewer
Top Turret Gunner——Unknown—
—
Lawrence E. Dundon
Radio Operator——Unknown—
—
Robert L. Graves Jr.
Ball Turret Gunner——Unknown—
Howard
A. Hibbler
Left Waist Gunner——Unknown—
—
Lester Bryan Brooks
Pilot——Killed—
co-pilot
Jeremiah C. Murphy
Co-Pilot——Killed—
—
Leighton B. McKenzie
Bombardier——Killed—
Unknown
Edward Ewing McGill
Rear Waist Gunner——Killed—
tail gunner
Lawrence R. McGrane
Tail Gunner——Killed—

Local Contacts

These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.

Elgin Branch, Legion Scotlandlegion scotland

Local remembrance and memorial support

Further Reading

WartimeNIRetrieved 2026-03-23

Detailed account of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97862 crashing on Cave Hill, Belfast on 1 June 1944. The aircraft was transferring from 401st Bomb Group to 306th Bomb Group at Nutts Corner when thick fog caused disorientation. All 10 crew killed.

What you'll find: Explore detailed account of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97862 crash on Cave Hill in Belfast.

En route from Gander, NewfoundlandDiverted to Nutts Corner due to fogAll 10 buried at Lisnabreeny American Cemetery

Belfast EntriesRetrieved 2026-03-23

Local history account of the B-17 crash on Cave Hill. Notes the memorial stone was repainted and listed as a historic landmark by the NI Environment Agency in May 2016.

What you'll find: Explore local history of B-17 crash at Cave Hill Memorial, now a historic landmark.

Memorial listed as historic landmark May 2016Memorial located within Belfast Zoo area

Amazon (book reference)Retrieved 2026-03-23

Book '42-97862' by William Lindsay and Alfred Montgomery tells the full story of the crash. Montgomery found crew member Lawrence Dundon's wedding ring at the crash site in 1991 and returned it to his widow, inspiring Richard Attenborough's film 'Closing The Ring'.

What you'll find: The detailed account of the Cave Hill Memorial crash and its significance in '42-97862'.

Wedding ring found at site in 1991 by Alfred MontgomeryInspired film 'Closing The Ring' by Richard AttenboroughPublished book documenting full story

Sources

WartimeNI (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Belfast Entries (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Amazon (book reference) (retrieved 2026-03-23)
wartimeni.com; belfastentries.com (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-03-21

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This record for Cave Hill 42-97862 Memorial is partially complete. We’re looking for additional details such as crew information, photographs, narrative history, or source references.

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